Colombia — Jhoan Vergara Finca Las Flores Chiroso (Advanced Anaerobic Washed)

Tastes Like — 🌿 Mint • 🌸 Elderflower • 🍋 Citrus

DETAILS

• Producer: Jhoan Vergara
• Farm: Finca Las Flores
• Region: Huila, Colombia
• Varietal: Chiroso
• Process: Advanced Anaerobic Washed
• Altitude: 1,750 MASL
• Size: 200g

INTRO

Minty Chess is not just another Colombian — it is a distinctly unusual flavour profile that demands a second cup. An advanced anaerobic washed Chiroso from Jhoan Vergara's Finca Las Flores in Huila, this coffee evokes mint infusion and fresh, juicy citrus in every sip. Clean, precise, and intensely memorable.

The processing method is central to the cup's character. Advanced Anaerobic Washed allows for exceptional clarity — a hallmark of the washed tradition — whilst introducing intense citrus notes through the anaerobic fermentation stage.

THE PRODUCER

Jhoan Vergara tends his farm, Finca Las Flores, in the Huila department — one of Colombia's most celebrated coffee-producing regions. Situated at 1,750 metres above sea level, the farm's altitude and microclimate provide ideal conditions for the Chiroso cultivar, a Colombian variety prized for its elongated bean shape and remarkable cup complexity.

Vergara's careful stewardship of Finca Las Flores has made it a recurring source of standout lots for discerning roasters. His commitment to precision at the processing stage — in particular his use of advanced fermentation techniques — consistently produces coffees with remarkable clarity and character.

THE PROCESS

The Advanced Anaerobic Washed process at Finca Las Flores involves:

• 🍒 Selective Harvest — Ripe Chiroso cherries are hand-selected at peak maturity
• 📅 Anaerobic Fermentation — Whole cherries ferment in sealed, oxygen-free tanks, concentrating fruit acids and developing intense citrus aromatics
• 🔧 Depulping — Cherries are mechanically depulped after fermentation
• 💧 Washing — Parchment is washed thoroughly to remove remaining mucilage, preserving a clean finish
• ☀️ Raised-Bed Drying — Parchment dries slowly on raised beds with regular turning
• ✅ Sorting — Final quality sorting before milling and export

The combination of anaerobic fermentation and a clean washed finish produces the exceptional aromatic complexity — the mint, elderflower, and bright citrus — that defines Minty Chess in the cup.

THE CUP

Minty Chess is unmistakable: fresh mint and elderflower on the nose, with bright juicy citrus driving the palate. The anaerobic fermentation introduces intensity, whilst the washed process ensures a clean, precise finish. A coffee that is both unusual and elegant.

Flavour Notes

• 🌿 Mint
• 🌸 Elderflower
• 🍋 Citrus